Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception review

Can Nathan Drake's third adventure recapture Uncharted 2's magic?

Probably the biggest and coolest additions, however, are the timed action sequences that take place before the “real” action begins on certain maps. These take the shape of things like two speeding subway trains for players to fight across, or a fleet of trucks following closely behind a taxiing cargo plane. Whichever team does the best in these sequences starts the round with a bonus, giving them an early edge.

There’s more to Uncharted’s multiplayer than competition, of course, and the three-player co-op mode returns as well. Focusing almost entirely on shooting and simple objectives with little climbing and no puzzle-solving, it’s not quite as much fun as a co-op feature in the single-player campaign might have been. It’s still pretty great in its own right, though, and Uncharted 3’s co-op takes things a step further by giving the mode a consistent (if goofy and non-canon) storyline that Uncharted fans will love.

Add to that Co-op Arena, which ditches the story in favor of timed objectives (i.e. fight while staying inside a glowing green area, or carry heavy idols to a chest), and there’s enough here to keep even competition-phobic players busy for a long time.

Is it better than…?

For those who skipped straight to the end

While it never quite reaches the highs of Uncharted 2, Uncharted 3’s slick, relentless action, beautiful visuals and beefed-up multiplayer ensure that it stands well enough on its own.